What Is Tet?

Tet is the Vietnamese New Year.

It is one of the most important holidays in Vietnam.

Tet celebrates the new year and the upcoming

spring season.

It is also a time to honor

ancestors and spend time
with family.
 When Is Tet?
Tet is celebrated in January or February.

The holiday is based on the lunar calendar.

What is a
lunar
calendar?

A lunar calendar is based on

the monthly phases of the
moon.
 Turn and Talk

When do you celebrate

the new year?

Do you have any family

traditions when
celebrating the new year?
 Tet
Tet is a three-day celebration.

The preparations for Tet begin at least a week before

the festivities.

People first clean and sweep their homes. This

represents the washing away of bad luck from the
previous year. It is also believed to help make room for
the new year.
 More About Tet
People also believe that their ancestors visit them
during Tet.

Family shrines are cleaned and polished and family

photographs are displayed.

New decorations and special offerings are placed

around the family shrines.

A shrine is a
special or
sacred place.
 Think About It

How far in advance do

you start preparing for a
special holiday or
celebration?
 Special Flowers and Plants of
Tet
People decorate their homes with kumquat, peach
blossom, and orange trees.

Flowers like chrysanthemums and orchids are

displayed around homes and in cities.

Trees and flowers like these symbolize hope and

prosperity for the upcoming year.
 Foods of Tet
Rice, pork, fish, fruits, and vegetables are eaten during
the Tet celebrations.

Packets of pork and rice wrapped up in banana leaves

called banh chung are enjoyed.

A fruit platter called the five-fruit platter is placed on a

home’s altar to honor ancestors.

Toasted watermelon seeds called

hat dua symbolize luckiness and
richness for the new year.
 Turn and Talk

What foods from Tet

would be your favorite?
Why?

Are there any similarities

to foods that you eat at
your family celebrations?
 Festivities of Tet
Tet includes many exciting celebrations.

Parades are colorful with dragon floats and lion

dances.

Cities are often decorated with lanterns and flowers.

Dancers dress up in elaborate lion costumes

and dance.

The dancers in the lion dances prepare

for many months. It is considered an honor
to dance in the lion dance.
 Red Envelopes for Tet

Birthdays are also celebrated during Tet. Everyone

celebrates becoming another year older.

Children receive gifts of red envelopes filled with money

from older family members on the first day of Tet.
Red is considered a lucky color.
 Think About It

Would you like to

celebrate your birthday
with everyone else?
Why or why not?
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!
This means “Happy New Year!” in
Vietnamese.